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Buckeye Hills RC&D
Coordinator:
Bob First
Address:
21330 St. Rt. 676
Suite D
Marietta, OH 45750-6799
Tel.: (740) 373-7926
FAX: (740) 374-5340
Counties:
Athens,
Belmont,
Hocking, Meigs, Monroe,
Morgan,
Noble,
Perry,
Washington
Buckeye Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council
Our Mission:
The Mission of the Buckeye Hills RC&D is to enhance the quality of the
environment, and improve the economy through conservation development and the
wise use of resources.
Upcoming Events
- August 19, 2010 Council Meeting at the USDA Marietta Brewing Company,
167 Front St., Marietta OH 45750
- October 12-13, 2010 Ohio Mineland Partnership Fall Conference in New
Philadelphia, Ohio
- November 16, 2010 OEEF Grant Writing Workshop in Athens, Ohio
- April 10-14, North Central RC & D Regional Meeting, Atwood Lodge
Location/Area
Located in southeast Ohio and includes Athens, Belmont, Hocking, Meigs,
Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington Counties. The nine-county area is
bordered on the south and east by the Ohio River. The river plays a major role
in economic vitality of the area. Of the 451 miles of the Ohio River shoreline
bordering Ohio, 132 miles of the river (29.3%) border the RC&D Area. The river
offers relatively inexpensive bulk transportation for heavy industry and natural
resource products such as coal, sand and gravel, logs, grain, and chemical
products.
Agriculture, forestry, mining, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and
recreation and tourism are all important industries to the RC&D Area.
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About the Buckeye Hills RC&D
The Buckeye Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council is a
southeast Ohio nonprofit organization and is sponsored by the Board of
Supervisors of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the County
Commissioners for the nine counties. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy
District and Rush Creek Conservancy District are also sponsors. The council
meets quarterly to discuss needs, opportunities, problems, and concerns.
In August, 1967, the Buckeye Hills RC&D Area was authorized by the US
Secretary of Agriculture. Belmont, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, and Washington
counties were the five counties involved with Ohio’s first RC&D Area. In 1983
the four counties of Athens, Hocking, Meigs, and Perry petitioned the Buckeye
Hills RC&D Executive Council to be added as part of the area. The four counties
were officially approved in January, 1984, expanded Buckeye Hills to a nine
county area.
Purpose
The purpose of the newly formed RC&D Area was to plan for the orderly
development of the social, economic, and natural resources of the counties. A
broad range of issues were addressed, from critical area stabilization to
development of community farm markets. Environmental issues were also addressed,
including development of regulations for oil and gas well drilling, abandoned
mine land reclamation, air pollution control, and multi-flora rose control.
Today’s issues focus on improving water quality and clean air, sustainable
agriculture, low input farming methods and rural development as it pertains to
the social and economic well-being of the rural sector. The RC&D Council has
developed the following goals to guide the work of RC&D.
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Goals
The Executive Council has established goals to help carry out the RC&D
program into the coming years. Goals include:
- Assure a sustainable natural resource base through implementation of
projects that reduce soil erosion and increase productivity.
- Implement ten projects that promote improved standards of living that
benefit residents and landowners by 2010.
- Cooperate with existing agencies and organizations to support the
development of facilities, services, and businesses that make for safer,
improved lives for the citizens of the RC&D area.
- Improve water quality by 10% in identified watershed areas within the
Buckeye Hills RC&D service area by 2010.
- Develop nine tourism and recreation projects to benefit people living in
rural areas over the next five years.
- Provide programs and encourage activities through RC&D that increases
opportunities for all residents of the counties served.
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Project Activity
Some examples of Project activity include:
Perry County "Growing Green"
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The Perry County “Growing Green” greenhouse project is up
and running. Perry Board of DD hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony in April
that attracted almost 100 guests, elected officials, and others to view
firsthand the progress that had been made with the project. Ron Spung, Perco
Workshop director, hosted the ceremony. |
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The Buckeye Hills RC&D is proud to have helped with the
historic preservation of the Ball-Caldwell House. The RC&D Office
specifically helped acquire the land that the house sits on so the process
of designating it an historic land mark. Robert Caldwell, born in 1762, came
to Washington County, Ohio in 1795 from Chester County, Pennsylvania. A
revolutionary war soldier, he surveyed this area of Ohio for Rufus Putnam
who helped settle Marietta, the first settlement of the Northwest Territory. |
Noble County Ball-Caldwell House
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OPM Spring Meeting and Tour
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The Executive Committee of the OMP is finalizing plans for
the annual spring meeting in Meigs County. Please reserve Thursday, May 6,
to meet at the Family Life Center, across from the Middleport Church of
Christ at 437 Main St. in Middleport. The day includes a brief business
meeting at 10:00 A.M., followed by a program: “Meigs Mine Pool
Complex—Hydrologic Effects and Early Flooding Conditions.” Refreshments and
lunch will be provided by the SEOWC Group. After lunch, we will tour sites
in Leading Creek and Shade River Watersheds; we plan to adjourn by 2:30 P.M. |
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Staff
Robert L. First -
Coordinator
Jim Williams - Coordinator Assistant
Karen Walker - Administrative Assistant
Officers
President:
Ms. Chasity Schmelzenbach, Noble County Member-At-Large
1st Vice-Chairman: Mr. Lenny Eliason, Athens County Commissioner
2nd Vice-Chairman: Ms. Amy
Grove, Morgan County Member-At-Large
Secretary: Mr. Stanley Borovich
Treasurer: Ms.
Opal Dyer, Meigs County Member-At-Large
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Athens: Mr. Lenny Eliason, Mr. Robb Weinfurtner, Mr. Bob
Eichenberg
Belmont: Mr. Matt Coffland, Mr. Stanley Borovich, Mr. Jim
Forshey
Hocking: Mr. John Walker, Mr. Richard Harwood,
Vacant
Meigs: Mr. Mick Davenport, Mr. Joe Bolin, Ms. Opal Dyer
Monroe: Mr. Carl Davis, Mr. Dale Dietrich, Mr. William Thomas
Morgan: Mr. Don Reynolds, Ms. Kathi Spencer, Ms. Amy Grove
Noble: Mr. Robert Nau, Ms. Laura Schafer, Ms. Chasity
Schmelzenbach
Perry: Mr. Ed Keister, Mr. Denny Young, Mr. Tom Althauser
Washington: Mr. Steve Weber, Ms. Mary Campbell, Ms. Pamela
Lankford
Muskingum Watershed Conservancy: Mr. John Olivier
Rush Creek Conservancy:
Mr. Keith Rowe
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RC&D Location Map
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